UFC Middleweight Caio Borralho Believes Robert Whittaker Nears Retirement

Rising Fighting Nerds talent Caio Borralho is of the mind that Robert Whittaker is in the twilight of his career.

Whittaker lost his middleweight title to Israel Adesanya in 2019, and his attempted rematch in 2022 to get it back also failed as well. “Bobby Knuckles” remained a mainstay in the title picture the last few years, but he has fallen on harder times as he is now on his first losing streak as a UFC middleweight. In his last six, Whittaker has won three and lost three, albeit all against top-ranked opposition.

“The Reaper” suffered a contentious split decision loss to Reinier de Ridder at UFC Abu Dhabi in July, which saw him tumble from the UFC’s top five at middleweight for first time in eight years. Accordingly, others are either licking their chops to face him on the downslope or are waiting for his decline so they can claim his position among the top of the division. Count “The Natural” among those that are feeling the latter.

Borralho Sees 34-Year-Old Whittaker as Victim of Father Time

Surging contender Borralho is direct about his feelings of Whittaker: he does not think the Aussie has what it takes to return to the top echelon of the division. While he made it clear when speaking to The Schmo on Saturday that he holds immense respect for Whittaker, he sees the former champ as someone who should avoid five-round back-and-forth battles going forward. The Brazilian flatly sees Whittaker as past his prime and fast approaching retirement.

“I don’t think so,” Borralho replied when asked if Whittaker returns to the top five. “Robert Whittaker is a legend. I’m a big fan of him…and all that he’s done in the sport. One of the GOATs in the middleweight [division]. But right now, I feel that it seems like he doesn’t want to be there anymore. His face says that, his body expressions say that. I don’t think he wants to go there and do a five-round war again. I don’t believe that. With all due respect to him, I’m a big fan but right now it’s just not his moment anymore. I think he’s very close to retirement.”

Brazil’s Borralho is currently ranked at No. 7 on Sherdog’s Official Rankings at 185 pounds thanks to seven wins in seven UFC outings—although Whittaker still remains one slot above him. The rising star has surpassed the likes of Paul Craig, Michal Oleksiejczuk and Jared Cannonier in recent memory, the most of recent of which coming in August 2024 in a five-round excursion. “The Natural” is scheduled to take on fellow elite contender Nassourdine Imavov in a possible title eliminator at UFC Paris on Sept. 6 at France’s Accor Arena.